Method and means for treating textile fabrics



Dec. 31, 1929. W s, ROWLEY ET AL 1,741,338

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed sept. 2s, 1924 5 sheets-shea 1 Dec. 3l, 1929. w. s. RowLEY ET Ax. '1,741,338

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Sepp 25.- 1924 s sheets-snm 2 /N VENTO/f5 Dec. 3l, 1929. w. s. ROWLEY ET Al.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Sept. 25', 1924 3 Sheets-Sheei Patented lDec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM S. BOWLEY AND HARRY W. BTTEBWORTH, 33 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA, -TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ASSIGNORS T H. W. BUTTEBWOBTH & SONS COMPANY, A. CORPORA- METHOQAND MEANS FOB TBEATING TEXTILE PABBICS Application illed September 28, 1924. Serial No. 739,285.

The object of our invention is generally to provide a method and means for continuous-A ly and rapidly subjecting textile material, Whether in flat Web or other suitable condito Wet the cloth through the use of a .Wetting' machine and then to gather it into rope `form through a pot-eye and' plate, delivering it into a large tank or kier, and laying or plaiting the rope form upon itself with the object of packing it as uniformly as possible. lThe alkaline liquor is then let into the kier submerging the textile material therein'and the boil started.. As it is dillicult to lay the rope-like text-ile material in the kierto insure a uniform resistance vertically to the flow of the liquor, it very often lfinds channels or avenues of least resistance and percolates through these channels during the boil instead of properly treating the textile material itself. The result is that the tire fabric but Will frequently be sd defective that all parts of the goods are uniformlyboiled or at least to such an extent that the required condition is obtained. Because of the -fact that it has been found that a single boil in many cases Was not sufficient to completely penetrate all of the goods uniformly, a second boil is frequently resorted to, and this requires that the goods shall be withdrawn tion, to` a preliminary treatment comprising fabric in all directions` of a uniform character or technically treatment will not be uniform over the en-l even though broughtV .from the first kier, washed throu h a bleachlng house'washing machine, an thereafter deposited 1n the second kier in the same manner 1n which they were placed in the first kier, though in this case kthe goods which were at the upper portion of thefirst kier will then be deposited at the bottom in the second kier and vice versa. i

It Will be readily seeen that by this process, portions of the goods which were independently exposed to the action of the kier in the first boil will `bernore fully exposed to the boiling action of the liquor in the second boil.

The length of time consumed in the first and second boils, together with the necessary time for the goods to pass through the washer and from one kier over to the other, has been approximately twenty-four hours. Furthermore, the extent of action of the liquor upon the goods is so ununiform and greatest at the beginning and ending of the length ofgood's to be treated as compared to the treatment at the middle, that there is always a doubt Whether the goods, after being processed, are

bottom7 condition throughout its length.

Aside from the difliculties thus enumerated in connection with the use of the old form of kier and process, there are many other difliculties which enter into the treatment, such as require handling of the goods by boys in large numbers and Who are recognized as dirty Workers, often doing considerable injury to the goods in the handling. Further, damage is frequently done by entangling of the goods whichl has been improperly placed in the kiers by the boys and frequently requiring the same to be cut to enable removal thereby, shortening the piece lengths, and in that Way injuring its salability. l 4

Our improvements primarily have for an object the overcoming of all the difficulties which have heretofore been inherent to the boiling in a kier as above outlined, and in addition to the special features of advantage first above mentioned, our improvements embody a capacity for manipulating the goods throughout the treatment Without any personal handling by the attendants and the avoidance of all tangling or irregularity in the treatment of the goods, so that upon once passing through the machine in a continuous manner, it may be taken as an unfalling fact that the treatment will be complete and uniform and the goods may be said to be delinitely bottomed from one end to the other.

The special feature of our improvements resides in the fact that the goods may be treatedin a continuous manner with as many repetitions of the treatment as desired and at whatever speeds the conditions may require., the fabric between each spraying and squeezing operation being subjected to a boiling in a weak caustic alkaline solution for any predetern'iined period which may be necessary.

Our object is furthermore, to provide an apparatus of this character with capacity for subjecting the fabric to kier action in successive sta ges with caustic solutions of different strengths or temperatures as required, boiled for different lengths of time in each solution as may be desired while the operation as a -Whole is a continuous one.

A still further object of our improvements is to eliminate entirel the necess1ty of boiling under pressure,. ecause every part of the length of the fabric is sub'ected to eX- actly the same treatment in the oiling caustic solution, and consequently pressure to insure circulation is not necessary.

With the above and other objects in View, the nature of which will be more fully understood from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel method and means for treating textile fabrics, as hereinafter more fully described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved kier when con'iposed of three sections, in cooperative relation; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

1 is an elongated chamber having from its bottom upwardly extending transverse dvision plates 5 fori'ning a series of tank compartments in its lower part each holding the caustic solution or fluid which is to constitute the boil. The bottom of these tanks are fitted with steam coils 1T which'may be sup-v plied with steam under any suitable control, such as a control valve 17, and in this manner control the temperature of the respective fluids in the tanks 16 during the boiling op' eration. The interior of the chamber l is further divided transversely and within and above the respective tank compartments 16 with curved or J shaped partitions 6 and 7 which` together, provide a J shaped passage 2 the discharge end of which opens at 9 b elow the level 3 of the solution within the tank, as clearly indicated in- F ig. 3. The passage 2 at its intake end extends well upsity of maintaining ward withinV com artment 4 and to a considerable distance a )ove the level of the fluid. It will be noted that the partition G extends from the top or roof of the tank 1 down into the iuid ad]acent to the middle of the tank 1 6 below, and, therefore, forms to a large extent, substantially a water seal between adthe vapors are concerned, and into which compartments the opposite ends of the J passages 2 open; and the sides of the artitions 6 and 7 are so formed near and lbe ow the liquid level as to permit side entrance of the caustic solution to the fabric passing through the said J passages 2. This same construction is followed in respect to each of the sections of the apparatus, that is, in respect to each of the tank portions' 16 of the apparatus.

In each of the compartments 4, the following devices are arranged. Above the entrance end of the J passage 2 is a transversely journaled feeding drum l5 which may convcniently be formed b end disks on a shaft and carrying a circuar row of transverse bars, the rotation of textile material downward into the J passage, as indicated by the arrow lines. Arranged in the upper part of the compartf which drums feed thev jacent tanks or compartments 4, 4, so far as ment 4 above the discharge end 9 of the J passage and at or about the level of the drum 15 is a pair of squeeze rolls 8 comprising a cylinder roll 12 and a rubber covered roll 13 above and between which the fabric passes, as indicated by the arrow line and by which the surplus solution carried up by the fabric is squeezed back intothe tank 16 from which the fabric rises. A transverse spraying pipe 14 is arranged to spray the fabric as it-passes upward and between the two rolls 12 and 13, the said spray being drawn from the tank 16 in'nnediately below. 10 are guide rolls or bars between which the fabric is guided as it rises from the discharge end 9 of the J passage 2. This saine construction applies to each of the compartn'ients 4 with the exception that in the first compartment into which the fabric is delivered, there are no squeeze rolls 8, and in the last compartment of the series there is no drum or reel 15. In this latter case, the fabric F, after leaving the squeeze rolls 12 and 13 passes 'through an opening in the tank structure and thence hetwecn a pair of guide rolls 55 and down into the upper open end ,of a J-box 54, where it is collected and from the lower end 56 thereof it is drawn upward and fed on to the washer for further treatment. This J box 54 may have a drain 57 at its lower part. The only purpose of the J box 54 is to provide a means for receiving the boiled textile materials and to compensate for any variation in the speeds of the passage of the fabric through t-he boiling operation and its delivery through the washing operation. It obviates the necesthe textile material under ioo l l boiling treatment.

- subjected therein to a boilin the higher it is being time, assuming, of course,

.to J box 54 where the fabric is subjected only to air treatment other than by the caustic which it contains, will equally apply to all the J passages 2 in the series of tanks 16 and compartments 4, with the further understanding that in these cases the fabric or tex-- J passage is with caustic solution. It will, therefore, e.. understood that in actual practice, each of these J pastile goods passing through the sages will be loaded with upward of a thou-- sand yards 'of material and, therefore, while the materials are 'being continuall fed into leg of the passage by tlie drawn out of the lower leg of the passage by the squeeze -rolls 12 and 13. It vwill further be understood that,V the greater the number of yards which-are permitted to remain in the Jpassages 2 during the operation of treatment will insure that much greater boiling in any tank 16 per unit of that the fabric is being fed into and out ofthe J passage at a uniform rate. For example, if the J passage is operatedto hold approximately four thousand yards of goods, -then in the kier of three sections, as shown, there would in all be twelve thousand yards being subjected to the 'Further, assuming that the delivery of the goods from the kier is one hundred yards per minute, it follows that every part of the goods under the conditions stated would receive a two hour boil. thermore, during the boil, the goods would be sprayed and squeezed in each compartment, which adds to the treatment three washes and three squeezings, and inasmuch as the cloth is moving at all times and the caustic liquor system insurers. each yard of goods belng boiled at the same temperature conditions and in the same strengths of liquor, and consequently a uniform result is obtained and the goods will emerge having what is technically known as a bottomf throughout its entire length. y

11 are windows through which observation may be made of interior conditions within various parts of the compartment and by which any irregularity may be detected should such occur.

In respect to the spraying or washing by the sprays vfrom the transverse pipe 14, it will be understoodthat the centrifugal pumps 18 draw the'solution from the tank 16 by pipes 19, and discharge it by pipes 20 to the `Corresponding spray pipes 14, as will be understood more particularly by reference to Fig.

reel 15,

Fur-

is kept up to one strength, lthe 1. The pressure ofthe rubber faced squeeze roll 13 upon the lcylindrical squeezeroll 12 may be adjusted by the screw adjusting means 27 and, in this manner, any desiredY degree of pressure may be provided to suit the character of materials being treated.

28 is a storage .tank for the caustic solution and from which the solution may be sugplied to the respective tanks 16 by the distri` uting pipe 30 with branches to the respective tanks 16 each controlled by a valve 31. A I shut-offv valve 29 may4 be provided fox` use.-

in case of repairs.' The solution from the several tanks may be drained olf by drainage pipes 32 having branches connecting with the tanks and provided with control valve 33, said drain pipe 32 being connected with the suctionof a-centrifugal pump 34 which-de.

livers the solution through a pipe 35 into the tank 28 by a branch pipe 36 having a cont-rol valve 39, or'it may be discharged as 'waste lthrough a pipe 37 having a valve 38 to be closed when the solution is to be returnedto the tank 28.`

44 is a pipe leading from a source of waterv which water maybe deliveredv pipe 42 having a y supply and by into the tank 28 through a control valve 43, or, when necessary, the 4 water may be delivered by a pipe 40 through a control valve 41'into the distributing pipe 30 and in that manner be supplied to the tanks 16 when it is desired to wash them clear. of alkali. Under these conditions, the centrifugal pump 34 will operate to drawoff the washing solution and will discharge it byl pipes 35 and 37 as waste, it being understood at this time that the valve 39 will be closed and .valve 38 open. In addition to the valves thus described, there is providedl a single compartment box 45 in which thereare upper and lower guide rolls 46 about which the goods to be treated are passed in zigzag direction. This box contains the solution which is to impregnate the goods to thoroughly wet itout before it passes into the first compartment of the; kier. The solution in this compartmentbox 45 may be a two per cent caustic solutio n,',1b 1 way =of example. The fabric F is deliveredftolthe compartment box 45 by passing over `a roller orA guide 47, thence around and between transverse guide bars for adjustable friction, and thence into the box 45. The goods on leaving the box passes be-` tween the squeeze rollers 49 and thence downward about guide rollers 50 and through the opening in the end lof the kierlto the firstreel, which delivers into the first J passage2 within the kier.

In the case where .the goods being treated is in the'woven form and it is desired that it shall remain in that form in passing through the kier, it is desirable to employ the lwell known Foxwell guiders at the selvages thereof for stretching the goods transyersely treated in series as may be preferred, and it .will be evident that the greater the number of sections employed the greater the boil given to the unit of length of the goods and consequently the more rapid may the speed be of the fabric through the, kier, or, where desired, with a -given delivery of goods per minute, the increase in numbers of sections employed may give a greater boil where such is required from the nature of the goods. It will be observed that-in the example given, the duration of the boil was two hours, whereas in the o ld process first referredto,in which the boil was required to be done under pressure, the time re uired was from eight to twelve hours, or rom four to six times as long. From this it is manifest that the character of apparatus forming the subject matter of this application is especially useful not only in insuring a more uniform treatment but an increased capacity and with greatly l less workmen for maintalning the process in operation.

As the goods which are fed into the lon leg of4 the J passage 2 descend, they distri ute themselves in folds and keep on applying weight sufficient to feed. the lower portions of the goods down and around the curved portion of the passage and, at the same time, maintaining it in a submerged condltion. As the goods are being drawn upward from the other end of the J passage, it is manifest that Q45' the withdrawal of the goods is done without any possibility of tangling, consequently the passage of the goods through the boiling operation is accomplished without any diiculties and under precisely the same conditions for every portion of the length'of the goods and, therefore, insures a uniform treatment.

So far, we have not described any special means for operating the rotating parts 'of the apparatus, it being understood that these parts may be driven in. any suitable manner.

However, the particular means shown for driving these parts in the construction i1lus trated will now be briefly referred to by way of example but not as restriction 58 represents .an electric motor and this drives through a belt 62 a shaft 59 which through v suitable belt transmission "drives the squeeze rolls 49 of the compartment box 45. The shaft'59 also drives by sprocket chain transmission a sprocket wheel 63 on the shaft 52, said shaft being the shaft of the first reel or drum 15. Thesprocketwheel 63is loose upon the shaft 52 but is secured to a sprocket wheel 64, whereby Jthe two sprocket wheels rotate together. A clutch 74 on the shaft 52 may be employed for coupling the said shaft to the sprocket wheel 63 when y the reel or drum 15 is to be rotated. /The sprocket wheel 64 by means of sprocket chain 66 drives the sprocket wheel 65 on the shaft 26 which is an extension of the squeeze rdll 12 of the second compartment.` 67 is a sprocket wheel loosel supported upon the ysaid shaft 26 and.

may e coupled wlth the said shaft by a clutch 75, whereby it is rotated by the shaft when driven lby the sprocket wheel 65 and 'chain 66. The sprocket wheel 67 drives 'the chain 69 and by 1t a sprocketwheel 68 `which is secured to a second shaft 26 corresponding to the extension of the squeeze roll 12 in the next compartment 4. This shaft 26 has. also 'upon it with freedom of rotation a sprocket wheel 70 which may be coupled into driving relation with the shaft by a clutch 76. Finally, the sprocket wheel 70 is arranged to drive a chain 72 which, in turn, drives al *The use of the clutches is more particularly to enable the sections to be coupled into operative relation when threading or first putting the apparatus into operation, when `the fabric has to be fed through the machine and coupled from the J passage in each compart.

ment up to the squeeze rolls and over the reel therein. When this has been done in the iirst compartment in respect to the reel 15, the fabric is fed downward into the J compartment 2 and when l(hat is filled to the right capacity in yards, the free end of the fabric is then insertedbetween the press rolls 12 and-13 of the'next compartment and thence over the'reel 15 therein to When this is done, the clutch 74 is thrown into operation and the fabric is fed through` until the last mentioned J passage is also filled, thence the threading ofthe free end through the next pair of squeeze rolls 12 and 13 andover the next reel is accomplished, and thereupongthe clutch 75 is thrown into driving position. Then again, when the final passage J 2 is filled, the free end of the fabric is adjusted between the last pair of squeeze rolls and thence between the guide rolls 55 to the J box 54 and the last of the clutches 76 is thrown into drivingposition. The tanks 16 may be supplied with caustic the next J passage..

i solution before or after the threading of the the fabric in any length desired. It is manifest that when any given batch of goods is about completed, a new batch may be sewn on to the end of that about completed so that it is automatically threaded into the machine as the first mentioned batch passes therefrom into the J box 54.

The means for driving the centrifugal l pumps 18 and 34 will be understood from time required by the old process.

Figs. 1, 2 and 4. 1n respect to the pumps 18, the same are driven by sprocket and chains 22 from the sprocket wheels 24 on the squeeze roll shafts 26 when clutches 25 are thrown into gear, that is to say, the pump for a tank 16 is driven by the squeeze roll shaft 12 corresponding to that tank. There are, therefore, three of thesedrives in the particular apparatus shown. In respect to the pump 34, this is driven by means of chains 22 and sprocket wheel 24 from the shaft`52 of the reel l5 of the first compartment 4 when the clutch 25 is thrown into gear. Any other suitable means for driving these pumps may be employed, if so desired.J It will also be seen that the reel 15 in the two middle compartments 4 are driven by chain and sprocket wheel drives 53 from the shafts 26 of the squeeze rolls 13.

As compared to the process heretofore in ractice which would require twenty-four iiours for completion, the process as carried on in our improved construction of kier will have capacity for a delivery of one hundred to two hundred yards per minute, depending upon the weight of the cloth processed; and assuming the speed to be only one hundred feet per minute the pletion of the operation would be approximately two hours or only one-twelfth the Furthermore, the operation will be continuous, all damage due to weakening or tendering the goods is eliminated, the consumption of steam will be less, the amount of caustic soda necessary will be approximately one-half of that used formerly, the woven goods will be processed without being handled in the rope form, and as every portion of the goods in its length will be treated to exactly the same extent and under the same conditions, the boil will be absolutely uniform and the bottom iobtained on the goods will be perfect throughout. Furthermore, the caustic soluf tion may be pumped back to its source without any waste, the liquor may also be refiltered, if desired, and practically all of the caustic reclaimed. It will also be noted that inasmuch as the liquor in each compartment of the kier, after spraying the goods, drips back to its own tank, the most polluted liquor time required for com-` is kept in the first tank and from there on the liquor in the succeeding tanks is cleaner and consequently the fabric as it becomes cleaner is treated to a cleaner caustic solution, thereby insuring the cleanest and most thorough treatment possible.l The insurance of securing a uniform bottom7 guarantees the securing of a uniform dyeing in the subsequent treatment and, therefore, the process herein carried out has great advantages over the irregular and costlyprocess heretofore prac ticed.

While we have shown the fabric received from the boiling operation as carried on in the apparatus forming the subject matter of this invent-ion delivered into a J box 54 from the outer end 56 of which it may be drawn to pass to the washer of the bleach house, we do not restrictourselves to this manner of receiving the boiled fabric, as the same may be received upon a truck and transferred to the bleach house in the ordinary way.

While this apparatus is adapted particularly for the cleansing or scouring of textile material as a preparatory step to subsequent operations', such as bleaching, dyeing, it is to be understood thatthis same apparatus may be employed for other uses such as dyeing in which case one or more of the sections may be employed, according as to vwhether one or more clippings are necessary, cases, it will be preferable that less material be passed through the curved passages 2 at any moment of time so as to avoid undue packing'thereof. We, therefore, do not limit ourselves to the particular use to which this apparatus and method of treatment may be put, as it is adapted for any use to which a continuously moving textile material is required to be subjected to fluid treatment for ture of a single section as well as the process carried on therein may separately be used,

lif so desired, and, therefore, our improvements comprehend one of avplurality of these sections in the organized apparatus; Furthermore, while it is the special urpose of treating woven fabrics in the web orm in our improved. apparatus, we do not restrict ourselves to the particular character of the material which may be treated so long as it is capable of being fed through the apparatus in a continuous manner.

' The circulation of the caustic solution, during the boil, within the curved passages 2 is possible'by reason of the fact that the sides of the plates 6 and 7 forming the passage terminate a few inches from the side plates of the chamber l, as indicated in Fig. 4; and may also, if desired, have apertures 2a in the subbut in such.

' piled fabric as it accumulates to the solution in the tanks 1ng of the fabric in too dry a state, especially in t-hat portion of the curved or J shaped passage wherein it is temporarily above the solution in the tank. T ese spray nozzles 14a may be supplied with solution from the tank in which the piling is being done or from any separate source, as from the storage tank 28, in which latter case, the fresh supply of spra solution supplementsth'e tank charges an compensates for losses due to moisture carried off in the fabric. This addition of spray solution, when taken from an outside source may cause a gradual flow of the surface fluid and scum of the tanks 16 toward the intake end of the apparatus and be removed in a continuous manner from an overflow pipe 4, this desired, by side notches 5'i in the upper parts vof the tank plates 5 adjacent to the longitudinal side walls of the chamber 1. Renewal of fluid in this manner retains the purity of for a longer period than would otherwise be the case.

We have described our improved method and means in that particularity which we deem to be the best exposition of our invention, and that which we prefer in commercial practice, but we do not restrict or confine ourselves to the minor or secondary details, as such are susceptible of modification which may be resorted to as matters of mechanical skill and without a departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The herein described method of treating a textile fabric in a continuous manner, which consists in passing the fabric successively into and out of a heated fluid in a closed tank compartment containing a hot vapor above the fluid, and during each of the passages into and out of the fluid piling the 4fabric upon itself above the fluid and causing the ass downward by gravity into and througi the fluid and thence upward whereby the accumulating piled fabric which is descending under the action of gravity is of greater height and weight than the piled fabric which 'is rising in the fluid and by reason of which it is overbalanced, withdrawing without resistance the upper and leading end of the piled fabric from. the upper portion of the upwardly rischaracterized b being made possible, if f1 ing accumulations thereof whereby it is gradually withdrawn from the fluid in a heated condition, subjecting the fabric when out of the fluid to hot spra s formed from the heated fluid, piling the fa ric again into and with drawing it in a similar manner in another and purer portion of the same fluid within the same tank compartment and so on for a series of treatments, and finally discharging the fabric in a continuous mannerfrom the compartment.

2. The method according to claim 1,further as it rises out o the fluid in each instance to a squeezing action between rolls whereby the excess fluid is removed from the fabric and returned to the body of fluid in the compartment from which the fabric was immediately withdrawn and whereby the fabric is subjected to a plurality of squeezing operations alternately with fluid treatments.

3. The herein described method of treating a textile fabric in a continuous manner, which consists in passing the fabric successively.

through fluids in a series of the passage tanks piling tanks and during into and out of the respective the fabric upon itself above the uid and causing the accumulated piled fabric to pass downward into and through the fluid un er the action of gravity and withdrawing the leading portion of the'piled fabric from out of the fluid, piling it into the next tank and so on through the series to the last tank, and finally discharging the same in a continuous manner from the last tank, said method also characterized by forcing the fluids of the respective tanks in the form of spray upon the fabric as it rises in the tanks, and subjecting the fabric to pressure to squeeze out the excess of fluid before it is piled into the next' tank, said spray fluid being forced upon the fabric immediately at the time of being squeezed.

4. The herein described method of treating a textile fabric in a continuous manner, which consists in passing the fabric successively through fluids in a series of tanks and during the passage into and out of the respective tanks piling the fabric upon itself above the fluid and causing the accumulated piled fabric to pass downward into and through the fluid under the action of gravity and Withdrawing the leading portion of the piled fabric from out of the fluid,.piling it into the next tank and so on through the series to the last tank, and finally discharging the same in a continuous manner from the last tank, said method also characterized by having the fluids in the respective tanks maintained in a boiling condition during the passage of the fabric therethrough, and wherein further, the fluids are of approximately the same character in ecomposition and that portion of the fluid contained in the rising fabric from each of the tanks is squeezed back so as to be respectively returned to its own tank whereby ment to descend in a 1,741,338 l v y the dirt removed from the fabric passing through the respective tankswill remain subst ntially in the tank wherein it was removed so hat purity of the fluid in the respective containing the most impure fluid and so -on y and emerging from the last' tank having the .purest fluid and in its final 'clean condition, and withdrawing the scum from the up er surfacev of the fluids in the respective tan s, the same passing successively over the surfaces of fluids in said tanks in a reverse direction to that ofthe travel of the fabric rela.- tively to the tanks.

5. The herein described method for treatf ing a textile fabric, whichsconsists in passing the fabric into and out of a closed compartment containing fluid in a heated condition and causing said fabric wi%in the compartile condition and guided in that condition downward and thence upward through the fluid, spraying the fabric with a portion l before it descends and assumes the piled con' dition, spraying the fabric after it rises from the fluid and out of the piled condition and i. at' thesame time subjecting the vfabric to a squeezing act'on whereby'the excess of fluid is squeezed f om the fabric and caused to 4flow downward upon the same into the body of fluid contained within the compartment.

6. The herein described method of subjecting a fabric to alternate action of hot vapor and a body of heated fluid in a closed tank in a continuous manner, the sameA consisting 4 -in piling the fabric into and causing itin piled condition to pass by ,gravity` through a curved passage submerged in avfluitl with which the fabric is to'be treated and thence upward and outtherefrom, and withdrawing the advancing portions of the fabric upward from the outlet lof the curved passage and'out.

of the body of fluid with a speed commensurate with the speed with which the fabric was piled into the curved passage, whereby a great length of fabric may during treatment be submerged in the fluid for long periods to prolong the treatment while at the same time the fabric enters and leaves the passageway and fluid in a continuous and rapid manner while under the influence ofthe vapor, and

repeating the said treatment in the same while still enclosed within the compartment.

7. The method according tofclaim 61 further characterized by subjecting the fabric each time it leaves the fluid to the action of pressure whereby the excess fluid 4contained therein is squeezed back into the body of fluid to be again utilized.

8. In an apparatus of the character stated, the combination of a closed chamber divided at its lower part to provide a plurality ofconof the heated fluid nectedtanks each provided with a curved passage open on its sides to the fluid and arranged'in the lower portion of the tank so asto be submerged in the fluid to be contained in the tank when in use and each of said curved passages havin its ends opening upwardly, separate means lo1" feeding a textile material downward and into the receiving open end of each of the respective curved passages whereby it is piled therein and by gravity caused to fmove downwardly and through the same so as to be acted upon by the fluid contained in the tank and while in a submer ed condition, separate means. for withdrawing the 'piled fabric from the de livering open end of each of .the respective curved` passages and delivering it to the feeding means for the next tank in succession, separatel `the connected tanks, curved passages and feeding and withdrawing means are arranged -within the same closed chamber.

9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein further, the heating means comprise separately controlled' heating coils below the curved the piled fabric.

10. In an apparatus of the character stated,l

the combination of a chamber divided at its lower part to provide a plurality of tanks, withv a plurality of curved passages respectivelyT arranged within the tanks and so as to be submerged in the fluid of the tanks and each passagevhaving its ends opening upwardly, separate means for feeding a textile material downward and into the receiving open end of the respective curved passages whereby it is piled't-herein and by. gravity caused to move through the said passages and the fluid therein. and separate means for passages for heating the fluid beneath controlled means for each tank for withdrawing the piled fabric lfrom the de- 5 livery open ends of the respectivecurved passages for delivering the fabric to the feeding means for the next tankin succession, and` wherein further, the ntanks are each provided with separately controlled heating coils below the curved passages for heating the fluid and also with circulating means for spraying the Aheated fluid upon the fabric while being fed into the curved passages and also before it reaches the meansfor withdrawing it from the curved passage.

11. In an apparatus of the character stated, l the combination of a chamber divided at its lower part to provide a plurality of tanks with curved passages respectively arranged low down in said tanks and each passage haveah of the tanks for maintaining therein a fluid about the curved passages, separate means for feeding a textile material downward and into the receiving open end ofthe respective curved passages whereby it is piled therein and by gravity caused to move ,its ends opening upwardly, means for through the ing means for heating a fluid passage arranged assage so as to be acted 4upon by the uid t erein, and separate means for withdrawing the piled fabric from the delivery open epd of Vtherespetive cur-ved assages and delivering the fabric to the fee lng means for rthe next tankin succession, and wherein further, the means for `withdrawing the fabric from the delivery end-of the curved passages comprises 'a pair of squeeze rolls above each tank whereby the fabric is moved upward and at the same time subjected to a squeezing action to express therefrom the iuid and return it to the same tank from which the fabricY is ,beingwithdrawm and means are also providedin connection with `each tank for circulating the fluid thereof and spraying it upon the fabric being withdrawn therefrom prior to its being squeezed by the squeeze rolls.

2 In an apparatusofthe character described, a closed. tank like compartment, heat- 1n the tank like compartment a curved within the tank like compartment-and open at its sides tothe fluid'contained within said compartment and presenting u wardly directed open ends extending to di erent levels, the higher end constituting the'receiving end and the other constituting the delivery end, means to feed a textile fabric into the receiving end of the curved passa e whereb `it may be piled therein above'saiciuid and7 caused by action of gravity to travel downwardly and through the curved passage and fluid and be reversed in its iled condition while in the deliver end ofp the curved passage, means for wit drawing the forward part of the fabric in a continuous manner .from the piled fabric in the delivery end of the passage and squeezing the fluid from said fabric, said squeezing means located in the closed compartment whereby th fluid squeezed from the fabric is maintaine in a heated condition and returned to the tank, and means for recirculating the Huid through thetank and spraying it upon the,` fabric immediately before being squeezed.

13. The invention according to claim 12, wherein further, the a paratus therein4 defined is duplicated, andpmeans are provided for feeding the fabric in its squeezed condi.

tion in one closed compartment into the next adjacent compartment and delivering it to the feeding means therein.

14. The invention according to claim 12, wherein further, the tank like compartment is' divided into separate tanks and the apparatus for handling the -textile fabric specified in said claim is duplicated within the same tank like compartment and associated with the respective tanks so that the fabric leavthe curved passage of thenext adjacent tank and the recirculatin means of the several tanks are maintaine independent of each other but acting ulpon thel travelling fabric in succession, and w erein also means are provided for supplying additional fluid to the delivery end of 'the tank like compartment and the tank portions of the compartment are so formed as to provide separate iuid bodies respectivelyfor the plurality of curved passages but having at their upper parts communicating passages whereby the scum u on the surface of the fluid bodies may ow through the successive tanks in a general direction opiosite to the general direction of passage o the fabric and caused to be removed from the liuidbodies within the tanks and without materially intermingling the main bodies of fluid of the respective tanks.

In testimony of which invention, we hereunto set our hands.

WILLIAM S. ROWLEY. HARRY W. BUTTERWORTH, JR.

ibs

ing the means for withdrawing and squeezing it in connection with'the curved passage of one tank delivers the fabric to the means for feeding the same into the "receiving end ofY 

